Campaign contributions heat up as elections near

WASHINGTON-The Credit Union Legislative Action Council of CUNA (CULAC) is turning up the heat as election time nears. NAFCU PAC is also adding its two cents to the races. The August recess, traditionally used for district work, began this week for the House and starts next week for the Senate. CULAC took in more than $207,000 during the month of June, according to the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. This is nearly $60,000 more than the previous month and almost twice last June's $105,676. The political action committee (PAC) also made more contributions, totaling $181,561 for June 2002, compared to half that in April and last year's $148,173. The bulk of the larger donations went to Republican candidates last month. Congressman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is running for the seat of the retiring Senator Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), received $5,000 from CULAC in June. Also getting $5,000 from CUNA's political arm were Representatives Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), who introduced the regulatory relief bill; Chris Cannon (R-Utah); and Mike Pence (R-Ind.), a member of both the Judiciary and Small Business Committees, as well as Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine). Newcomers receiving $5,000 include Jon Porter (R-Nevada) in the new District 3 and Mike Feeley (D-Colo.) in the newly created seventh district, in addition to Mike Michaud (D), running for Maine's second district, and Mike Turner (R) for Ohio's District 3. NAFCU PAC, considerably smaller than CULAC, received $3,404 over the last quarter. It paid out $8,820 in disbursements. Top contributions went to House Financial Institutions Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Alabama) and Financial Services Committee Chairman Paul Kanjorski (D.-Pa.) at $2,500 each. NAFCU also showed its support for Congresswoman Jean Carnahan (D-Mo.) last quarter with a $1,000 donation. In May, CULAC made a $10,000 contribution to her opponent Congressman Jim Talent (R-Mo.) NAFCU PAC also donated $1,000 each to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Banking Committee Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.). -scooke@cutimes.com